It seems to have all the requirements - powerful, 80 degree beam with no hotspot, long burn time, three effect levels, on-off by means of a press button on the back and small size and weight. The price is also reasonable. My FIX LED500 DX works fine but it is big and heavy, making it less sutable for travel. Also, I'm always afraid it will put too much of a strain on the accessory ball mount on the top of my Ikelite housing. The Latuz Optics L800 also has a much longer burn time. But does anybody have any practical experience of it?http://www.laluzoptics.com/L800.html

I don't have experience with that light, but if you're looking for small, light, and powerful have you considered a Light & Motion light? http://www.uwimaging.com/photo.html They have excellent reviews and I love mine.

I don't have experience with that light, but if you're looking for small, light, and powerful have you considered a Light & Motion light? http://www.uwimaging.com/photo.html They have excellent reviews and I love mine.

-Gina

Thanks Gina! I've also heard very good reports of the Sola lights. However, the Laluz Optics L800 is $100 cheaper than the Sola 500 and $300 cheaper than the Sola 800. It is also somewhat smaller and lighter than the Sola lights and has about the same burn time as the Sola 800. If it is as good as it sounds, it offers the same advantages as the Sola 800 at a much lower price.

It only has a red filter. It does not have the true red light option of the Sola. The red filter really cuts down on the light output. The red light is really important. Some fish do not see the red light and are easier to photograph. A lot of critters still see red, but aren't as bothered by it. Some still run away from it though.

I have the Sola 600 Photo which I think got replaced by the Sola 800 Photo.

The Sola 600 Photo has gold plated external charging connectors so you don't have to open up the light to charge the batteries which really cuts down on flooding. Clean the ports with fresh water after your dive and rinse with vinegar occasionally and you are good.

The Sola has a magnetic switch with a safe position so it can't be turned on accidentally.

My Sola cuts off when my flash fires, so it does not create unintended lighting.
The shadows are bad if you try to use it as a strobe.

The Sola will also work for video but you need two and longer arms to prevent shadows unless your subject is small.

Thank you for your comments. My Fisheye LED500 has neither a red filter nor a red light and I can't say I miss it. The Laluz Optics L800 also has a safe position. As regards cut-off, I thought we were all more or less agreed that this is unnecessary as the strobe completely overwhelms the focus light and also has a different colour temperature. I intend to use the light only as a focus light, not as a substitute for a strobe or as a video light, by the way.

I use a Princeton Tec 4AA LED model -- the one meant to strap onto your mask. I rigged it with a cold-shoe ball mount. Works great as a focus light. Cost: $65 + the ball mount and one strobe arm clamp I had left over from building my strobe rig. You could do it for about $100 even having to buy all that. I have a piece of magenta gelatin liberated from an old enlarger that serves as the fish-friendly red light for night dives.

I don't see any need to spend hundred$ on a "true" focus light...... Solas in particular.... they are wonderful pieces of engineering but IMHO, a solution looking for a problem.

The Ikelite C light with an esspresso lid diffusor. that worked ok ish, but battery life, beam angle and amount of light were not too great. The fix eye small focus light (that has been often discussed here, is verys small, 30-40 $ and does shut of automatically at the flash) had a too small beam for my taste and not that much power.

I settled on a Sola 500 Photo . I like the wide beam and the build. I think the wide beam and sufficient power is most important. I bodged a 55mm red filter in front of it, but havent tried that under water. I dont really believe in the only red leds can give really red light argument. It does take a lot of the power though.

To summarize, I wouldnt know if a mask light will give enough beam width. re-aiming it for every shot is just a pain in the you know what.

The Latuz Optics L800 does look intruiging...it has some nice specs, including the wide beam which is most important.

It seems to have all the requirements - powerful, 80 degree beam with no hotspot, long burn time, three effect levels, on-off by means of a press button on the back and small size and weight. The price is also reasonable. My FIX LED500 DX works fine but it is big and heavy, making it less sutable for travel. Also, I'm always afraid it will put too much of a strain on the accessory ball mount on the top of my Ikelite housing. The Latuz Optics L800 also has a much longer burn time. But does anybody have any practical experience of it?http://www.laluzoptics.com/L800.html

"Easily replaceable & rechargeable Lithium battery. (Battery and Charger included)" is a big selling point for me. My Sola 600 recently died (hopefully just the battery) right before my upcoming trip to the Philippines. The same thing happened to my Suunto D6 right before I went to Raja Ampat. If you travel frequently, I think User Replaceable batteries are the way to go. I may have to pick up one of these.

Thanks everybody for your comments. After due consideration, I've taken the plunge and ordered a Latuz Optics L800 with a spare battery, red filter and diffuser. I'll post my opinion when I've received and tested it.

I just bought one $199usd and got them to throw in a extra battery and the red filter cap.....using the make an offer feature on fleabay!

The size got me 800lumen 34mmx115, can use it as a headlamp on night dives. Has 3 power setting, made in PRC- looks to be a weapons tactical light attachment design(rail mount), claims to be good to 100m!

I don't agree with the criticism of the button. I had no problem pressing it under water with 6mm three-finger mitts.

I also don't agree with the what he said of the switch, he obviously hasn't used it underwater as the pressure makes it lighter to push- tested it in a HK apartment!!!!The incrementation of power seems wrong too in the review, I think the manufacturers claims are fair and square.It's a solid little torch, with the latest tech rechargeable battery.

If I was going to fault it, I would say the YS style adapter is the weak point, if they made a sprung mount clip for it(like for smgs) it would be a better, but hey plastic things last if you look after them(the design of the plastic mount isn't the best as it tightens past parallel). You could probably bodge up a Inon brand one to work on this, could use multiples for video.

I also don't agree with the what he said of the switch, he obviously hasn't used it underwater as the pressure makes it lighter to push- tested it in a HK apartment!!!!The incrementation of power seems wrong too in the review, I think the manufacturers claims are fair and square.It's a solid little torch, with the latest tech rechargeable battery.

If I was going to fault it, I would say the YS style adapter is the weak point, if they made a sprung mount clip for it(like for smgs) it would be a better, but hey plastic things last if you look after them(the design of the plastic mount isn't the best as it tightens past parallel). You could probably bodge up a Inon brand one to work on this, could use multiples for video.